Moon's 91-year-old father maintains links with Pyongyang and the church owns Pyeonghwa Motors in the North.

The 32-year-old son is an ordained minister who is expected to take over the multibillion-dollar religious and business empire. His father calls himself a messiah sent to complete Jesus Christ's works.

Moon's trip coincides with the 20th anniversary of a visit by his father to North Korea and a meeting with founder Kim Il Sung.